Hookless gallery assemblies for chandeliers

Abstract

A gallery assembly for a decorative lighting chandelier includes a gallery ring and a plurality of decorative chains suspended from the gallery ring. The gallery ring is provided with openings, or pockets, which are dimensioned and shaped to support the uppermost crystal of the decorative chain in an upright position without the use of hooks or other connector elements. The opening includes an elongated crystal-receiving portion and a gap portion. The gap portion permits the decorative chain to be installed on the gallery ring by passing the connector through the gap and then lowering the decorative chain into the crystal-receiving portion of the opening until the crystal contacts the gallery ring. Upright support of the uppermost crysal is ensured by providing only four points of contact between the crystal and the gallery ring.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A gallery assembly for a decorative lighting chandelier, comprising: a plurality of decorative chains each comprising an uppermost crystal and at least one additional crystal flexibly connected to said uppermost crystal by a connector; and   a gallery ring for supporting said decorative chains, said gallery ring including a plurality of spaced-apart openings, each opening including a crystal-receiving portion that is sized and shaped to receive said uppermost crystal and to support said uppermost crystal in a predetermined position, each opening further including a gap portion that joins said crystal-receiving portion to one side edge of said gallery ring, said gap portion being sized such that said decorative chains can be installed on said gallery ring by passing said connector through the gap portion of a selected opening and lowering the decorative chain into the crystal-receiving portion of the opening until the uppermost crystal rests on said gallery ring, and the decorative chain hangs from said gallery ring.   
     
     
       2. A gallery assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said gallery ring comprises a generally flat metal strip. 
     
     
       3. A gallery assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said gallery ring comprises a circular ring that is horizontally mounted in said chandelier. 
     
     
       4. A gallery assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein the uppermost crystal in each of said decorative chains has a substantially square outline and pyramidal front and rear faces. 
     
     
       5. A gallery assembly as defined in claim 4 wherein the pyramidal front and rear faces of said uppermost crystal have ridges and wherein said opening is sized and shaped such that said ridges contact said gallery ring at four points. 
     
     
       6. A gallery assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein the uppermost crystal in each of said decorative chains has a substantially octagonal outline and front and rear faces having a plurality of ridges. 
     
     
       7. A gallery assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein the uppermost crystal in each of said decorative chains includes a connector hole for attachment of said connector and wherein a bottom periphery of said connector hole is located at least slightly below the points of contact between said uppermost crystal and said gallery ring when the decorative chain is installed in said gallery ring. 
     
     
       8. A gallery assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said uppermost crystal contacts said gallery ring at only four points, 
     
     
       9. A gallery assembly as defined in claim 6 wherein the crystal-receiving portion of said opening includes an indentation for receiving said connector. 
     
     
       10. A gallery assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein the crystal receiving portion of said opening is tapered from wider near its center to narrower near each end to ensure that said uppermost crystal contacts said gallery ring at only four points. 
     
     
       11. A gallery assembly as defined in claim I wherein said connector is relatively wide in a first dimension and is relatively narrow in a second dimension perpendicular to said first dimension such that each of said decorative chains must be turned sideways during installation in order to pass said connector through the gap portion of said opening. 
     
     
       12. A gallery assembly for a decorative lighting chandelier comprising: a plurality of decorative chains each comprising an uppermost element and at least one additional element flexibly connected to said uppermost element by a connector; and   a gallery ring for supporting said decorative chains, said gallery ring including a plurality of spaced apart openings, each opening including a first portion that is sized and shaped to receive said uppermost element and to support said uppermost element in an upright position, each opening further including a second portion that joins said first portion to one side edge of said gallery ring, the first portion of said opening being tapered from wider near its center to narrower at each end to ensure that said uppermost element contacts said gallery ring at only four points.   
     
     
       13. A gallery assembly as defined in claim 12 wherein said gallery ring comprises a generally flat metal strip. 
     
     
       14. A gallery assembly as defined in claim 12 wherein said gallery ring comprises a circular ring that is horizontally mounted in said chandelier. 
     
     
       15. A gallery assembly as defined in claim 12 wherein the uppermost element in each of said decorative chains includes a connector hole for attachment of said connector and wherein a bottom periphery of said connector hole is located at least slightly below the points of contact between said uppermost element and said gallery ring when the decorative chain is installed in said gallery ring. 
     
     
       16. A gallery assembly as defined in claim 12 wherein said uppermost element contacts said gallery ring at only four points. 
     
     
       17. A gallery assembly as defined in claim 12 wherein the second portion of said opening is dimensioned to pass said connector during installation.